McDaniel resurrects career, re-signs with Stampeders

Calgary’s second-leading receiver from 2012 season returns to the fold

Slotback Marquay McDaniel re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday.

Photograph by: Calgary Herald/Files
, Calgary Herald

No one is about to mistake Marquay McDaniel for Geroy Simon, the newest member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

After all, Simon is a future Hall of Famer, the all-time leading receiver in the Canadian Football League.

McDaniel, on the other hand, is one year removed from a lengthy stint on the Stampeders practice roster and 13,297 career receiving yards back of Simon.

But on the day the B.C. Lions shipped Simon to the flatlands, the Stampeders quietly announced a contract extension for McDaniel, their second-leading receiver in 2012 with 744 yards and three touchdowns. The former Hamilton Tiger-Cat is not the tallest pass-catcher in the land. Nor is he exactly fleet of foot.

But he is dependable. He is deceptive. And he gives the Stampeders an all-around threat in the slotback position opposite the punishing Nik Lewis.

“He’s a very shifty slotback who has good running skills after the catch,” head coach/general manager John Hufnagel said of McDaniel. “He knows how to set up his routes to get open. He’s strong enough to be able to go against physical defensive backs.

“He’s not the fastest guy out there, but he has enough speed that he can go over the top.”

McDaniel, 26 broke into the league in 2009 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. As a sophomore, he registered 994 receiving yards and looked to have established himself as a CFL regular.

Then came the fall in 2011 when the Tiger-Cats first benched him and then released him outright.

The Stamps offered up a practice-roster spot, and McDaniel agreed to come in and claw his way back up the depth chart.

“Going from starting for two years to not playing to the practice squad, it was humbling,” McDaniel said. “But at the same time, I was grateful. I could have been at home instead of out here on the practice squad.

“I never thought I was done. I always thought I had more years in me.”

Through his daily auditions in practice, McDaniel convinced the Calgary coaching staff to give him a legitimate look last year in training camp.

“He just worked his butt off,” Hufnagel said. “We got him an opportunity, and he took advantage of it.

“I’m very pleased he decided to stick around.”

In 14 games last season, McDaniel caught 53 passes for 744 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 12 punts for 130 yards and one kickoff for 18 yards.

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